This publication summarises the results of a survey on mobility of the population, conducted throughout Victoria during October 1999 as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey.

Information was collected on people who moved house in the last three years (movers), such as main reason for leaving the previous home, main reason for choosing to live in the current area and main reason for choosing the current home. Also included is information on tenure type, dwelling structure, size of yard, employment prospects as a consideration for moving, whether the selected person had grown up in the current area or lived there previously, and whether they had lived with all the same people in the previous home.

Information on housing extensions added by people who did not move in the last three years (non-movers) is also included.

For people intending to move in the next three years, information includes main reason likely to move, when the move is likely to occur, the likely destination and whether they expect to live with the same people in their next home.

This information is cross-classified by a range of data items such as age group, location of past and present dwellings, distance moved and year of arrival for those people born overseas.

FINDINGS

In October 1999 there were 1,014,700 people in Victoria aged 18 years and over who had moved in the previous three years (29%) compared with 2,503,100 people who had not (71%).

The most mobile age group is between 25 and 34 years, with 53% (384,400) having moved in the last three years. The percentage that moved decreases steadily as age increases, with less than 9% (48,300) of the 65 years and over age group having moved.

Generally, people with post–school qualifications were more likely to have moved than people without such qualifications. For example, 40% (163,200) of people with bachelor degrees had moved, compared with 25% (519,900) of those without post–school qualifications.

Some 73% (155,200) of people currently in group households had moved. In contrast, this percentage ranged from 23% to 34% for people in all other household types.

In the last three years, less than 10% (118,000) of current home owners had moved. This compares with 67% (444,200) of renters and 31% (331,500) of purchasers.

1a - MOVERS AND NON-MOVERS, overview

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

'000

'000

'000

%

%

%

Age groups

18–24 years

195.4

272.1

467.4

41.8

58.2

100.0

25–34 years

384.4

343.9

729.6

52.7

47.1

100.0

35–44 years

212.2

507.2

720.4

29.5

70.4

100.0

45–54 years

116.1

506.1

622.2

18.7

81.3

100.0

55–64 years

58.4

360.5

419.6

13.9

85.9

100.0

65 years and over

48.3

513.4

561.7

8.6

91.4

100.0

Sex

Male

489.6

1,232.2

1,724.5

28.4

71.5

100.0

Female

525.2

1,271.0

1,796.5

29.2

70.7

100.0

Country of birth

Australia

747.6

1,750.0

2,499.9

29.9

70.0

100.0

Main English–speaking countries

78.8

213.0

291.8

27.0

73.0

100.0

Other countries

188.3

540.2

729.2

25.8

74.1

100.0

Year of arrival

Before 1996

207.3

748.1

956.1

21.7

78.2

100.0

1996–1999

59.9

*5.0

64.9

92.2

*7.8

100.0

Not applicable(b)

747.6

1,750.0

2,499.9

29.9

70.0

100.0

Total

1,014.7

2,503.1

3,520.9

28.8

71.1

100.0

(a) Total includes people responded 'don't know' to the length of time that they have lived in their current home.(b) People who were born in Australia.

1b - MOVERS AND NON-MOVERS, overview continued

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

'000

'000

'000

%

%

%

Current area of usual residence

Melbourne Major Statistical Region

737.2

1,850.9

2,591.2

28.5

71.4

100.0

Balance of Victoria Major Statistical Region

277.6

652.2

929.8

29.9

70.1

100.0

Employment status

Employed

691.2

1,469.1

2,162.4

32.0

67.9

100.0

Unemployed

53.5

80.8

134.3

39.8

60.2

100.0

Not in the labour force

270.0

953.2

1,224.2

22.1

77.9

100.0

Post–school qualifications(b)

Higher degree

16.4

43.5

60.0

27.3

72.5

100.0

Postgraduate diploma

28.0

56.0

84.0

33.3

66.7

100.0

Bachelor degree

163.2

242.4

405.5

40.2

59.8

100.0

Undergraduate diploma

32.8

83.3

116.1

28.3

71.7

100.0

Associate diploma

57.8

104.5

162.4

35.6

64.3

100.0

Skilled vocational qualifications

147.2

339.3

488.5

30.1

69.5

100.0

Basic vocational qualifications

47.7

69.9

117.6

40.6

59.4

100.0

Out of scope/not applicable(c)

519.9

1,559.0

2,079.9

25.0

75.0

100.0

Total

1,014.7

2,503.1

3,520.9

28.8

71.1

100.0

(a) Total includes people responded 'don't know' to the length of time that they have lived in their current home.(b) 'Uncodeable/inadequately described' and 'not stated' responses are only included in total.(c) 'Out of scope/not applicable' includes people who have not completed any tertiary qualification or have no post secondary education.

1c - MOVERS AND NON-MOVERS, overview continued

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

Movers

Non–movers

Total(a)

'000

'000

'000

%

%

%

Household type

Person living alone

113.3

270.4

384.1

29.5

70.4

100.0

Married couple only(b)

215.9

605.2

821.8

26.3

73.6

100.0

Married couple with children(b)

348.5

1,183.4

1,533.9

22.7

77.1

100.0

Single parent with children

77.1

182.3

259.4

29.7

70.3

100.0

Group household(c)

155.2

57.2

212.4

73.1

26.9

100.0

Other households

104.8

204.5

309.4

33.9

66.1

100.0

Current dwelling structure

Separate house

744.0

2,264.4

3,011.5

24.7

75.2

100.0

Semi–detached, row or terrace house, town house, etc

90.6

99.3

189.9

47.7

52.3

100.0

Flat/unit/apartment/other dwelling

177.5

138.5

316.0

56.2

43.8

100.0

Current tenure type

Owner

118.0

1,111.3

1,230.6

9.6

90.3

100.0

Purchaser

331.5

748.1

1,079.6

30.7

69.3

100.0

Renter

444.2

223.7

668.3

66.5

33.5

100.0

Boarder

*11.3

*3.9

15.2

*74.3

*25.7

100.0

Rent–free

64.4

256.2

320.6

20.1

79.9

100.0

Other(d)

45.4

158.1

204.8

22.2

77.2

100.0

Total(e)

1,014.7

2,503.1

3,520.9

28.8

71.1

100.0

(a) Total includes people responded 'don't know' to the length of time that they have lived in their current home.(b) Married couple includes people who are in de facto relationship.(c) Person living with non–relatives only.(d) Other includes people responded 'life tenant' and 'participant of rent/buy (or shared equity) scheme' responses.(e) Total includes some 'not stated' responses.

SYMBOLS AND OTHER USAGES

ABS

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Movers

People who moved house in the three years to October 1999

Non- movers

People who did not move house in the three years to October 1999

*

Estimate is subject to sampling variability too high for most practical purposes